Savage Ecstasy

by Janelle Taylor

  “Damn those red bastards!” the lieutenant swore to his captain. “They’l have the devil to pay for this!”

  captain. “They’l have the devil to pay for this!”

  He sent the captain to tel the men to prepare to mount up and move out promptly. They couldn’t be sure how long the warriors had been away or how soon they would return. One thing Gordon was sure of—it would be stupid to confront the braves on their own home ground.

  Gray Eagle had told Matu to hide al of Alisha’s clothing. If she did recover while he was away, he wanted to be sure there was no chance of her escaping again. No matter how much she hated or feared him, she would never leave his teepee naked. Gordon looked around for something to dress her in. He cursed again when he found she wasn’t even alowed to have garments of any kind. Seeing nothing he could use to cover the upper part of her slender body, he galantly removed his uniform jacket and carefuly put it on her. As he buttoned it securely, he took note of her slim, but ravishing, figure. She was neither child nor woman, but suspended momentarily between the two. He painfuly realized he was much too aware of her loveliness and desirability as a woman. He wrapped a blanket around the lower half of her body and secured it about her tiny waist. He lifted her into his arms and carried her to his waiting mount. Captain Harrison held her while he mounted, then handed her up to him. He settled her in his strong embrace and cradled her protectively.

  As the other men watched with growing interest and curiosity, Kathy harshly exclaimed, “I see you found the bitch. Too bad. She’s not going to appreciate your help. She won’t like being rescued and neither wil her brave.”

  The lieutenant maneuvered his horse to stand before Kathy. He glared down at the bitter young woman, trying to detect the real meaning in her statement. He had loosened his grip on Alisha and meaning in her statement. He had loosened his grip on Alisha and her head had roled away from his shoulder. A few gasps were audible as the closest men became aware of the mental state and physical condition of the beautiful girl in Gordon’s arms. The cloth had slipped from around her forehead and the swolen, jagged cut stared them in the face. The slender ankles were raw and chafed from rawhide bindings. The arm which hung free displayed a bloody bandaged wrist and minor injuries on her smal hand. The angelic features were also marred by a swolen lower lip.

  Gordon retorted to Kathy, “Is this what you cal a wiling mistress? This girl’s been brutaly beaten into unconsciousness and inflicted with numerous other injuries. I saw from the lashing she took and the evidence of scars, she was far from being submissive and wiling. From the looks of her abused body, I fail to understand how you think she’s been treated like a queen. I think those were your exact words. Why would any man, even a savage, flog a woman to near deathΓ

  Kathy spitefuly replied, “He only whipped her yesterday. She tried to run away. He tracked her down and brought her back. The beating was for punishment. She’s been living with him for months. She waits on him hand and foot. She does everything for him, Lieutenant, everything!”

  Captain Harrison spoke up, “If she liked it here so much, then why’d she try to run away? ‘Sides, how are you so sure she was crazy about him? Did you sleep in the same teepee with them?” His last question was a cutting joke and the soldiers nearby laughed at the jealous girl.

  Lieutenant Gordon cut in before Kathy could speak another word, “Prepare to ride to the fort, men! Or else your head wil rest tonight on an Injun’s belt!”

  tonight on an Injun’s belt!”

  Gordon directed Harrison to take Kathy with them to Fort Pierre. The entire regiment fel into formation and headed swiftly out of the Oglala camp.

  It was nearly midnight when they finaly arrived at the fort. The guards hastily opened the gates at Lieutenant Gordon’s command. He immediately went to the doctor’s quarters with his precious survivor. He pounded loudly on the door with his boot. As Doctor Philsey opened the door, Gordon kicked it back and hurriedly went inside. Carrying the limp body of the girl, he headed straight for the examining table.

  “What’s going on, lieutenant?” asked the perplexed doctor. Lieutenant Gordon shouted over his shoulder, “Doc, we found this white girl in a camp we raided this morning… appears she’s been badly whipped… been unconscious since yesterday… signs of other injuries, too …”

  Doc came forward to the table where Gordon placed Alisha and looked down at her. “My God!” he exclaimed. “She’s no more than a girl! Damn these savages! Know who she is?”

  Gordon carefuly removed his jacket from the stil girl. He shook his head and answered only the questions he could. “Her name’s Alisha Wiliams. She’s one of those settlers from that smal fortress southwest of here. The one about two days’ ride. You recal, the one that was raided about a month or so back. By the time wė scouted the area, everyone was dead or captured. It was those Oglala, just like I thought. We brought back another girl, too; but she hasn’t told us much. She said this one was the squaw of the chiefs son. If you asked me, I’d say the other girl is just a mite too spiteful to be trusted. I think there’s more between these two girls spiteful to be trusted. I think there’s more between these two girls than she’s told us.”

  Doc questioned, “Did you say Oglala camp?” Gordon nodded yes. “That would make the chiefs son none other than Gray Eagle, wouldn’t it, son?”

  Gordon grinned like the Cheshire cat. “You’re right there, Doc. Finaly put one over on that son-of-abitch! Damn, how I’d like to see his face about now!”

  “Don’t you think that was a bit foolish, son? Gray Eagle isn’t a man to be dalied with. His feathers wil be mighty ruffled when he finds this treasure missing. You’l have to leave her here and I’l take care of her, if it isn’t too late. From the looks of her condition, I’d say she doesn’t have much of a chance to pul through. None, if infection sets in. Shame too, she’s very young and pretty.”

  Mrs. Philsey came out to see what the fuss so late at night was al about. She noticed the girl lying on the table and went to her. She gasped. She moved backwards a few steps, slightly sickened by the sight of Alisha’s raw back and ugly welts.

  Doc had to force Gordon to leave to alow him to work on the injuries. He told Gordon he’d have to check her to see just how bad it was and see if he could fix her up. He maneuvered Gordon to the door and told him he would let him know her condition as soon as possible in the morning. He closed and bolted the door. He went back to join his wife at the girl’s side.

  Together they gently cleaned Alisha’s back, which was a bloody pulp of torn, mangled flesh. They applied a salve and carefuly bandaged it, then set to work on her other injuries. The worst scrapes, cuts and burns were painted with tincture of iodide. Her head wound was washed, balmed and dressed. This was about al they could do for her.

  al they could do for her.

  After talking it over with his wife, Doc decided it would be best if he kept her sedated for the next few days. He knew this would prevent him from knowing the ful extent of her head injury, but the reality of her pain and the tortures she had recently undergone would be far worse for her at the present. Doc gave her a heavy dose of laudanum and put her in the spare room to the back of the their quarters.

  The next few days passed slowly for the Philseys. They watched over Alisha as if she were their own daughter Elizabeth. Their hearts reached out to her when she would cry out for deliverance from her unseen enemy who haunted her even in her heavily drugged state. She had screamed out such terrible things. They would stare at each other in shock, wondering how she could have endured it al, if in fact her words were true. At those times, they would try to quiet and comfort her, but could not reach her. How could they doubt her words when her bodily injuries said she spoke the truth?

  They daily bathed and dressed the wounds, keeping a close check for infection. Alisha’s fever had finaly broken and some of the angry redness in the welts began to subside slightly. The Philseys had forced soups and fluids down her throat numerous times during
the day and night. They had been forced to change blood and sweat-soaked sheets twice a day. Things finaly seemed to be coming under their control. Her cries would have puled at even the hardest heartstrings.

  By the sixth day, Doc knew he must alow the laudanum to wear off in order to check Alisha for any internal and brain injuries. He dreaded the thought of letting her regain consciousness, but knew it was necessary. In her delirium and pain, she had traveled knew it was necessary. In her delirium and pain, she had traveled back in time and relived many horrible events. Each tragedy claimed her energies, and Alisha would cal out and whimper in her troubled sleep.

  By mid-afternoon, the sedative began to wear off gradualy. She began to stir restlessly and moan in discomfort. With each movement, her pain and awareness increased. Each action brought fresh waves of burning, stabbing pain to her back and head. Her mouth was so dry she could hardly swalow. Her head pounded and swam dizzily. She ached al over. Why was she so weak and groggy? She fought hard to regain consciousness, but couldn’t quite bring herself above the dreamy level. Every so often she would hear soft whispering. Where was she and why was she in such terrible agony? Where were her parents and why didn’t they stop this excruciating pain?

  Alisha could hear someone screaming and crying. She realized it was she, but could not order her mouth to stop. Why didn’t someone help her? Had she been in some accident? Couldn’t they see how much she was suffering? It was so hot. Her back felt like a sheet of fire. Her limbs felt strangely dismembered. Her thoughts colided one with the other in a kaleidoscopic dream of varying colors and phantoms. Although her mind had traveled backward in time, it was swiftly hurling forward to the present with each passing minute. She would soon know the answers to her questions—only to wish for unconsciousness again.

  A female voice startled her. She was stunned at the English she heard. “Don’t cry, Sweetness. You’re safe now. They can’t ever hurt you again.”

  Alisha trod the twilight between consciousness and wakefulness. Her thoughts jumbled together and she moaned, “No wakefulness. Her thoughts jumbled together and she moaned, “No

  … It can’t be… It’s not fair… Prayed to die … Suffered enough

  … Let it be over … Can bear no more … Others al dead … Why not me? … Can’t wake up . .. Can’t be kaskapi… No more cruelty and hatred… Al blood and death… Torture .. .” She screamed out, “Please don’t let him hurt me again. The pain…

  Hurts… My head… The fire… Untie me . .. Let me go… Please, water… Must escape … Papa, help me! … In the fire, burning, must save it… No-o-o … Beg you, mine … It’s mine … Must help Kathy… Don’t hurt her… Needs water, food … Hates us al…

  No place to run … Can’t hide from his eyes and ears … Al alone now… Al dead … So hot… The pain…”

  Her mental torment and agitation became so great, she bolted upright in the bed, face ashen with terror and eyes wide with fear. She screamed to her elusive antagonist, “No more, Gray Eagle. I beg you, no more…” The pleading softly faded as she lapsed back into unconsciousness, mumbling faintly, “… No more … Be good… No more, please…”

  She lay there drenched in perspiration, mentaly and physicaly exhausted. Mrs. Philsey stared down at her in shock and bewilderment. This girl’s words and fears definitely did not match the accusations the Brown girl was spreading around the fort. Alisha certainly didn’t sound like a wiling squaw to her. Al her pleas had been filed with hopes of escape from him and his brutality. It sounds to me like she was terrified of the bastard, Mrs. Philsey decided. Stil, there were nagging doubts which puled at her mind. Perhaps this girl was halucinating part of the things she said. The head injury or the terror of her capture and ravishment could be responsible for the ilusions in her mind.

  One thing was sure—she had been the captive of Gray Eagle, One thing was sure—she had been the captive of Gray Eagle, for she had begged for mercy from him, only him … Mrs. Philsey begrudgingly wondered if this Gray Eagle were as handsome and virile as she had heard. The few women who had caught a glimpse of him during raids had spoken heatedly about his good looks, dashing boldness and brave manner. He had been likened to Adonis. Even the Brown girl couldn’t hide her envy of Alisha’s position. Mrs. Philsey suspiciously wondered if his cruelty had completely blocked out al that magnetism and sensuality. It definitely had not in the Brown girl. Stil, Alisha had not spoken any words of love or desire. Confidently she vowed, I wil know her thoughts and feelings for him and his kind very soon…

  Powchutu had given a surprised start when Alisha had cried the name of Gray Eagle. He had been standing near the window of her room adjusting the bridle on his horse when she had cried out loud. He had listened to her rantings as he pretended to be busy with his gear. He had an overwhelming desire to hear and know more. He had overheard the gossip from the soldiers in the fort. They enviously discussed the beautiful white girl they had rescued from the camp of the Oglala, in fact, from the very teepee of Gray Eagle himself! Powchutu was highly skeptical of the fact she was the private slave and captive of Wanmdi Hota. Gray Eagle capture and hold a white girl for his very own? Impossible! Why, he hasn’t even taken an Indian winyan for his own! thought the Indian scout. Not that any one of them wouldn’t give anything for that honor. Perhaps he is much like me. Perhaps he awaits that one special woman who wil stir and awaken the heart. From the facts I have learned, the decision of choosing a winyan wil soon be out of his hands. decision of choosing a winyan wil soon be out of his hands. But what is this white girl to him? She has caled out to him in her sleep. Do the white soldiers speak the truth for once? Did that girl inside truly belong to the most feared and awed warrior in this entire area? Al men, Indian and white, know the victories of Wanmdi Hota, and tremble to be caled his enemy.

  Powchutu recaled his past two years as a scout for the fort. He rarely believed anything these men said or did, but this time it might be true. In al his twenty-six years, they had shown him only contempt and hatred as they did al mixed-breeds, “hankewasichun” as the Indian would say. How he despised being caled

  “that half-breed scout” by the white man and “hanke-wasichun” by the Indian. One day he would show them al! They wil come to fear and respect the name of Powchutu as they did the name of Wanmdi Hota.

  There was a great deal of deeply rooted bitterness, hatred and resentment in Powchutu against both peoples. His mixed lineage had caused him many problems and a good deal of suppressed anger and mental torment. His kind were rejected and hated by both sides. He had no real friends or family on either side of his blood line, and his life was empty and dismal. It was tormenting to be so al alone and alienated in a world of living, laughing, loving people.

  Powchutu, cast out by both the red and white nations, swore his revenge against them both. Perhaps he would win his retaliation through the eventual confrontation between Gray Eagle and Lieutenant Gordon …

  Later in the night, Alisha regained consciousness, screaming in Later in the night, Alisha regained consciousness, screaming in the grips of pain and ilusion. Doc and his wife finaly calmed her down. She was trembling uncontrolably. Her cheeks were very flushed and huge tears escaped the luminous green eyes. She was thin and pale from the many days of undernourishment and ilness. Her face revealed signs of the intense bodily pain and mental suffering she was undergoing.

  She stared in disbelief and confusion at her unfamiliar surroundings and the two strangers who sat before her. She was hardly aware of what they were saying to her. She hastily blinked several times expecting the apparition to vanish. When it did not, she asked, “Where am I? How did I get here? Who are you?”

  Before they could offer any explanation, her terror-filed eyes scanned the room and she shrieked, “Where is he? Why did he bring me here?” Her tone changed to one of pleading, “Please don’t let him hurt me again. Tel him I won’t try to escape anymore. It’s impossible … He’d only track me down again and…” She hesitated, then questioned, �
��What is he going to do with me now? Is the punishment over? Wil he beat me again when I am wel?”

  Doc gently patted her hand and spoke comfortingly to her until she quieted down enough for him to go on with his explanation. He said, “You’ve been very il. We weren’t sure we could even help you. My wife and 1 have doctored you day and night for these past six days. Without proper care, I doubt you would have survived in that vilage. It’s a good thing Lieutenant Jeffrey Gordon found you when he did and brought you here so promptly. Of course, the Indians are gonna be plenty mad when they learn of his raid on their camp, if they don’t know already.”

  She gazed dumbfoundedly at him. His words hardly made any sense to Alisha. She stammered, “How did the cavalry know about sense to Alisha. She stammered, “How did the cavalry know about us? Six days … Safe … Rescued … When I tried to escape, I was heading for Fort Pierre. Lieutenant Gordon? Wil he come after me?

  Wil he attack here?’ She lowered her voice to a soft quiver, “You don’t know what he’s capable of. We’re not safe even here. He destroyed our fortress and kiled everyone. He’l come here and…”

  She could not believe that it was over. How could such a long, brutal ordeal suddenly halt? Could it realy be possible and true?

  Free from torment and him?

  Mrs. Philsey adamantly stated, “You’re safe here, Sweetness. He can’t harm you anymore. It’s al over. He isn’t strong enough to attack here. Why, our cavalry would cut him and his warriors to pieces if they tried to attack this fort! He’s not that stupid.” Alisha listened to the voice filed with positive assurance. Doc caught Alisha as she fel backwards in a dead faint. “This news must be a great shock to her after al she’s been through. Poor child, probably figured she’d never be free of those Indians again. When she realizes she’s truly free and safe, she’l be al right. She’s young and pretty. It’l take a little time, but she’l adjust and be fine.” He laid her head on the pilow, adjusted her body and covered her up.